News

BBPA welcomes new Government Tourism strategy and calls for fast action to cut red tape

Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association Brigid Simmonds OBE today welcomed the Government’s new five point plan to boost tourism across Britain.

The five point plan aims to promote places in the UK outside of London as great places to visit for international visitors through a new inter-ministerial group. The group aims to ensure Britain has the right infrastructure in place to make it easy for visitors to discover the best of what Britain has to offer.

The plan focuses on key areas such as a better coordinated tourism sector, skills and jobs, common sense regulation, transport and an improved welcome.

The BBPA looks forward to working with UK partners to promote pubs across the UK as a vital part of the tourism industry.

Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds comments:

“Offering great hospitality, accommodation and entertainment, pubs are right at the heart of British tourism and we welcome action to improve transport links, support our coastal towns and cut red tape.

“With so many Government Departments engaging with hospitality businesses, it is vital that the Government is joined-up and focused on cutting costs to business and promoting the UK as a great destination for tourists.”

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The Chancellor will be saying ‘cheers’ to the Great British pub this week, with pubs estimated to have given a £70 million windfall to the Treasury from successful trading over the royal wedding weekend.
With licensing hours for Friday 18thMay and Saturday 19thMay extended by two hours from 11pm to 1am for the royal wedding, along with the FA Cup final taking place on Saturday evening, an extra £20 million is expected to have been spent in pubs across the nation on ‘Super Saturday’ alone.
Beer and food are believed to have benefited most from the bumper weekend, with food sales predicted to have increased by 8% - generating £16 million for the Treasury through VAT - and beer sales predicted to have increased by 5%, resulting in over 100 million pints being poured over the weekend, generating £54 million for the taxman through duty and VAT.
BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds OBE comments:
“The royal wedding was a fantastic spectacle with the Great British pub providing the perfect place for the nation to celebrate. The relaxed licensing hours were welcomed by pubgoers looking to make the most of the historic occasion, whilst providing a real boost to the pub trade. Given that a third of the price of a pint in a pub goes straight to the taxman, the Chancellor will also be celebrating.”
Daniel Park, General Manager of The Duchess of Cambridge, Windsor, comments:
“The royal wedding was an exceptional event with both tourists and locals alike coming to enjoy the occasion in our pub. Thanks to the extended hours and good weather it was also a record breaking day of sales for us. In the six years I’ve run the pub I’ve never known it be so busy!”
Lucy Longworth, General Manager of The Lifeboat Inn, St Ives, comments:
“We had a really good turnout for Meghan and Harry’s wedding, with tables full throughout the day. We showed the wedding from 10am, followed by football at 5pm and then had a band to celebrate the wedding from 9pm. Many people stayed on for all three events which was great. Our bar sales increased by 50% on the previous Saturday.”

As the nation awaits the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Great British pub is readying itself for a bumper weekend as people look to celebrate the royal wedding in true British fashion – at their local.
With licensing hours for Friday 18thMay and Saturday 19thMay extended by two hours from 11pm to 1am for the royal wedding, along with the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United taking place on Saturday evening, an extra £20 million is expected to be spent in pubs across Great Britain, which many are billing as ‘Super Saturday’.
Beer and food are expected to benefit most from the royal wedding fever and FA Cup final, with food sales predicted to increase by 8%, closely followed by beer at 5%. During the weekend, over 100 million pints are expected to be sold.
To celebrate the occasion, hundreds of pubs from across the country have come up with creative and quirky ways to ensure that royal wedding revelers get the very best experience from the day. For example, pubs like The Swan, located in Hyde Park, will be hosting a wedding high tea with cupcakes, chocolates and a photo shoot from the balcony. For those in the Stockport, the aptly named Windsor Castle will be opening its doors to the public for a royal weekend of events, including a raffle, afternoon tea and a ‘Royal Curry’.
Beer connoisseurs will also be spoilt for choice over the weekend with a wide range of tailor made beers on offer, which have been brewed to give Harry and Meghan a proper ‘cheers’ to their marriage:
Surrey brewery Hogs Back has brewed ‘Hoppy ever after’, a golden beer with refreshing citrus notes made with the perfect marriage of American centennial and English cascade hops
Oxford’s Brakspear Brewery has brewed ‘Hooray Harry’, a limited edition 4.1% ABV ale, made from a blend of British and American hops, which has proved so popular it has already sold out!
The Channel Islands’ Liberation Brewery has launched ‘Meghan’s Sparkle’, a 4% ABV session ale created from the marriage of British and American hops, with a hint of ginger
Fans of TV series Suits may want to try Wadworth’s ‘Suits You Sir’, a ‘ginger’ hued ale with American hops and British malt creating a light and refreshing ale
McMullen’s has also brewed ‘Best of Both Worlds’ to celebrate the day, which will be exclusively available at The Duchess of Cambridge pub in Windsor
BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds OBE commented:
“A royal wedding is a fantastic celebration and the perfect opportunity for both the nation and tourists to get together in the Great British pub. With extended hours, promising weather and plenty of pubs putting on events to make the most of the wedding, what better place is there to celebrate than at the Great British pub?”

With only four weeks to go until Russia 2018 kicks off, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has produced definitive guidance for pubs to help ensure that this year’s FIFA World Cup screenings are a success.
The new advice has been developed with the support of the Local Government Association (LGA) and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). Live sport is a hugely important part of the pub experience and the World Cup is a major opportunity to attract customers who want to watch live matches with a great atmosphere.
The guidance is intended as a template for pubs, local authorities and police to work together to ensure that the FIFA World Cup is an enjoyable occasion for all. It provides a handy checklist for licensees to run through in making sure all angles are covered for busy and successful screenings. Advice for pubs includes contacting the police and licensing officers to let them know plans for showing FIFA World Cup events, making public transport information readily available to assist customers in leaving venues safely, and being vigilante for suspicious behavior or anything that seems out of place or unusual.
BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds comments:
“Pubs are the home of live sport and will be at the heart of the World Cup for those fans who won’t be making it to Russia. This new BBPA guidance has been designed to help pubs have a successful tournament by working closely with their local authorities to ensure as many people as possible choose to enjoy the football at their local.”
A spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs’ Council commented:
“We welcome the guidance published by the BBPA and hope that premises adopt the good practice it contains, this will help ensure that all those who wish to watch the World Cup in Pubs, Bars and Clubs can do so in as safe an environment as possible.”
BBPA World Cup Guidance for licensees 2018